DCJS Instructor
08-25-2008, 01:34 PM
Ramadan or Ramadhan (Arabic: رمضان)
By Tom Perroni
For those of us working in the Executive Protection (EP) world lucky enough to protect a Royal Family from the Middle East. It is important that we understand this important “Holiday” This year the fasting will start September 1st 2008.
Ramadan: (Ra’madan) The month of fasting. It’s the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and during this month, able Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.
The word Ramadan is derived from the word ramd "to burn". Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. The month is spent by Muslims fasting during the daylight hours from dawn to dusk. The name came from the time before the Islamic calendar, when the month of Ramadan fell in the summer. Fasting during this month is often thought to figuratively burn away all sins. Muslims believe that the Qur'an was sent down to the earth during this month. Furthermore, Muhammad told his followers that the gates of Heaven would be open all the month and the gates of Hell would be closed. The first day of the next month is spent in celebrations and is observed as the ‘Festival of Breaking Fast’ or `Eid ul-Fitr.
The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. Since the Islamic Lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year and contains no intercalation, Ramadan migrates throughout the seasons. The Islamic day starts after sunset. The actual and estimated start and end dates for Ramadan in
2005-2010 were and are as follows:
CE AH Start End
2005 1426 2 October 1 November
2006 1427 23 September 22 October
2007 1428 13 September 12 October
2008 1429 1 September 30 September
2009 1430 24 August 23 September
2010 1431 10 August 9 September
Ramadan dates between 2005 and 2010
Most Muslims insist on the local physical sighting of the moon to mark the beginning of Ramadan, but some insist on using the calculated time of the new moon or the Saudi Arabian declaration to determine the start of the month. Since the new moon is not in the same state at the same time globally, the beginning and ending dates of Ramadan depend on what lunar sightings are received in each respective location. As a result, Ramadan dates vary in different countries, but usually only by a day or two.
Fasting (Sawm)
The meaning behind fasting: An exercise of self-discipline: Islam says the highest state humans can reach is when they subjugate their desires. Fasting in Islam is a test of this commandment.
Motivation for giving: Muslims are required to experience hunger, while food is nearby, so they can connect with those who are less fortunate and thus motivate them to share what they have with the needy.
Developing a healthy habit: Following the tradition of the prophet of “fast so you can be healthy,” Muslims believe that in fasting there are many health benefits, such as avoiding gluttony and cleansing of the body. During the month of Ramadan (the ninth month of the Islamic calendar) Muslims spend the whole month in spiritual purity by spending long hours at mosques where they gather with their fellow Muslims every night for special prayers, supplication and reading
from the Qurán.
Each day, from sunrise to sunset, Muslims are required to fast and abstain from intimacy, eating, drinking, smoking and bad thoughts. In most Arabic and Islamic countries, work hours are minimized to enable people to fast.
To prepare for the fast, families wake up before dawn to eat a meal called Suhour. At sunset, families break their fast with a festive meal called Iftar.
I hope this helps! Call with any questions.
By Tom Perroni
For those of us working in the Executive Protection (EP) world lucky enough to protect a Royal Family from the Middle East. It is important that we understand this important “Holiday” This year the fasting will start September 1st 2008.
Ramadan: (Ra’madan) The month of fasting. It’s the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and during this month, able Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset.
The word Ramadan is derived from the word ramd "to burn". Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam. The month is spent by Muslims fasting during the daylight hours from dawn to dusk. The name came from the time before the Islamic calendar, when the month of Ramadan fell in the summer. Fasting during this month is often thought to figuratively burn away all sins. Muslims believe that the Qur'an was sent down to the earth during this month. Furthermore, Muhammad told his followers that the gates of Heaven would be open all the month and the gates of Hell would be closed. The first day of the next month is spent in celebrations and is observed as the ‘Festival of Breaking Fast’ or `Eid ul-Fitr.
The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, and months begin when the first crescent of a new moon is sighted. Since the Islamic Lunar calendar year is 11 to 12 days shorter than the solar year and contains no intercalation, Ramadan migrates throughout the seasons. The Islamic day starts after sunset. The actual and estimated start and end dates for Ramadan in
2005-2010 were and are as follows:
CE AH Start End
2005 1426 2 October 1 November
2006 1427 23 September 22 October
2007 1428 13 September 12 October
2008 1429 1 September 30 September
2009 1430 24 August 23 September
2010 1431 10 August 9 September
Ramadan dates between 2005 and 2010
Most Muslims insist on the local physical sighting of the moon to mark the beginning of Ramadan, but some insist on using the calculated time of the new moon or the Saudi Arabian declaration to determine the start of the month. Since the new moon is not in the same state at the same time globally, the beginning and ending dates of Ramadan depend on what lunar sightings are received in each respective location. As a result, Ramadan dates vary in different countries, but usually only by a day or two.
Fasting (Sawm)
The meaning behind fasting: An exercise of self-discipline: Islam says the highest state humans can reach is when they subjugate their desires. Fasting in Islam is a test of this commandment.
Motivation for giving: Muslims are required to experience hunger, while food is nearby, so they can connect with those who are less fortunate and thus motivate them to share what they have with the needy.
Developing a healthy habit: Following the tradition of the prophet of “fast so you can be healthy,” Muslims believe that in fasting there are many health benefits, such as avoiding gluttony and cleansing of the body. During the month of Ramadan (the ninth month of the Islamic calendar) Muslims spend the whole month in spiritual purity by spending long hours at mosques where they gather with their fellow Muslims every night for special prayers, supplication and reading
from the Qurán.
Each day, from sunrise to sunset, Muslims are required to fast and abstain from intimacy, eating, drinking, smoking and bad thoughts. In most Arabic and Islamic countries, work hours are minimized to enable people to fast.
To prepare for the fast, families wake up before dawn to eat a meal called Suhour. At sunset, families break their fast with a festive meal called Iftar.
I hope this helps! Call with any questions.